{"id":9963,"date":"2018-04-17T09:22:56","date_gmt":"2018-04-17T09:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mantis.uk.com\/?p=9963"},"modified":"2018-04-17T11:29:06","modified_gmt":"2018-04-17T11:29:06","slug":"help-bees-garden-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mantis.uk.com\/help-bees-garden-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Help the bees in your garden, now"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThe way humanity manages or mismanages its nature-based assets, including pollinators, will in part define our collective future in the 21st century\u2026\u2026The fact is that of the 100 crop species that provide 90 per cent of the world\u2019s food, over 70 are pollinated by bees.\u201d<\/em>
\n– Achim Steiner, Executive Director UN Environment Programme (UNEP)<\/p>\n

At Mantis, we share that perspective. Everyone, at their own level, can contribute to a better environment through the way we use our precious resources. Today, I would like to talk about protecting the bees, the number of which is decreasing every year.<\/p>\n

The number of bee colonies is in decline and this is an increasingly serious matter. It\u2019s a fact that, thanks to pollinating, bees are essential to the reproductive process of many vegetal species. Therefore, by extension, bees are necessary for the preservation of biodiversity and ultimately our food supply. Did you know that 1\/3 of our food owes its formation to bee pollination and it is estimated that \u00be of agricultural crops in the world depend to some extent on bees\u2026<\/p>\n

It sends chills down the spine, doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

The good news is that you can help the bees right from your home without ever leaving the garden. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

You can help improve the mortality rate of bees and contribute to their good health by taking some simple steps.<\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    Help the bees: banish fertilizers and pesticides from your garden<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The primary cause of death among bees are pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. So, simply discontinue any use of these agents and consider natural treatments like our recipe for rhubarb manure: as a natural treatment against aphids, the carrot rust fly or the leek moth.<\/p>\n

    And make compost to reduce and recycle your vegetal waste \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

    \"help<\/a><\/p>\n

    2. Help the bees: consider plants that attract them<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Offer food to bees direct from your garden! When gardening, do not be afraid to pamper bees, bumblebees and marmalade overflies. These insects ensure the pollination of floral plants by transporting the pollen between the stamens and the pistil.<\/p>\n

    You actually take care for the bees when your garden offers them any number of flowering plants, flowers, shrubs and trees. You will find below a selection of plants that attract bees. They are classified by type: fruit trees, shrubs and ornamental trees, perennial plants and flowers and finally, aromatic and medicinal plants.<\/p>\n

    We choosed them for their capacity to produce nectar and pollen, the simplicity of their culture and\/or for the flowering ability. Some of the most popular are perennials which require little maintenance. We have deliberately omitted interesting plants for bees which can be invasive such as the Japanese knotweed and the Jerusalem artichoke. Nonetheless there are plenty of flowering plants that thrive throughout the year that are hearty, pleasant and attractive to bees.<\/p>\n

    Note that simple flowers are not only great producers of nectar and pollen, but their flared corolla actually facilitates the access and the pollen-gathering of pollinating insects. The most beautiful examples are the asters, the Echinacea, the hollyhock and sunflowers.<\/p>\n

    \"a<\/a><\/p>\n

    <\/i> Download a selection of attractive plants for bees and other pollinating insects<\/a><\/p>\n

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      Provide a shelter <\/strong>for<\/strong> bees and other pollinating insects<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Bees are not the only insects that pollinate. Four different families of insects can\u00a0do this necessary job:<\/p>\n